The Tackle: Taylor Otto thriving decade on from ACL removal

A ruptured ACL – it is the most dreaded injury in women’s football. But while most are stuck on the sidelines for 12 months afterwards, Taylor Otto removed the problem altogether.

A ruptured ACL – it is the most dreaded injury in women’s football.

But while most are left stuck on the sidelines for 12 months recovering, Melbourne City’s Taylor Otto took a different approach and removed the problem altogether.

It proved a wise move for the 27-year-old defender who played a key role in maintaining Melbourne City’s unbeaten streak in the ALW at the weekend with a 2-2 draw with Central Coast Mariners.

Otto suffered the terrible injury to her right knee twice in two years as a teenager.

When the third tear was discovered medical professionals suggested removing it.

Taylor Otto hasn’t looked back since having her ACL removed. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

“When I was 15 I tore my ACL then about a year and a little bit later I tore it again,” Otto said.

“Then when I was in college I had two operations (on the same knee) to clear up some issues and had my medial meniscus removed.

“When I was in my first year of professional contract at Racing Louisville (2021) I had a piece of bone chip off and it got stuck in my joint.

“The MRI found that my ACL had been severed and they thought it had been like that for quite a while.”

As Otto had been playing on the knee with no dramas for at least six months, medical experts decided it best to just remove the damaged ligament.

It meant Otto didn’t have to go through another painful 12 month rehabilitation and could keep playing football.

“It’s been like that for about three and a half years now, it’s pretty crazy but I’m grateful that I’m able to play on it.”

There was a point, after her first two ACL injuries, that Otto questioned if football was the sport for her.

“I look back on it now and I’m grateful that it happened at that time,” she said.

“I feel at that age I was deciding if football was what I really loved and wanted to do and it made me realise how much I love to play and how much I wanted to do it.”

But the pain of the injury and rehab hasn’t been forgotten even more than a decade on.

“My heart breaks when I see people have knee injuries now, you never want to see people being out, especially when you’ve had to experience it.”

Taylor Otto in action for Melbourne City. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Otto was shattered when her City teammate Holly McNamara tore her ACL for the third time early on last season. It was just days after the talented forward had been named in the Matildas squad.

McNamara is yet to make her return.

“She is an incredible player, we can’t wait for her to be back out there, I think it’s going to be a little bit emotional for everyone when she comes back.

“We have all been trying to let her know how great a player she is and that she’s going to be right back out there when she’s cleared.”

Melbourne City will face off against Sydney FC at Unite Round – the retake of last year’s grand final, which the Sky Blues won.

Sydney FC have had a rocky start to the season. But Otto said they would not let that sway their game plan.

“Sydney is a great team, so regardless of what’s happened in previous games, they’re always going to give us a good run for our money,” Otto said

“So we’ll be prepared and ready to play them.”

Holly McNamara is yet to return from an ACL injury. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Around the grounds

Brisbane Roar 3 def Perth 0

Brisbane Roar have sent a clear message to the rest of the league that they plan to be playing at the pointy end of the season this year. Matildas midfielder Tameka Yallop scored an impressive goal in the seventh minute and then coolly converted a penalty. The game was Yallop’s 152nd for Roar – equal to Clare Polkinghorne’s record. But it was Tamar Levin’s goal that had everyone in awe. Not dissimilar to the screamer Kyra Cooney-Cross scored against Germany a few weeks ago – Levin spotted the Glory keeper of the line and sent the ball into the net from just inside the half. While a great win for Roar who struggled to find consistency last season it highlights some serious issues with Glory’s defence. They have conceded 10 goals in their opening three matches.

Tameka Yallop’s Roar thumped Perth Glory 3-0. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Sydney FC 1 def Western Sydney Wanderers 0

There were questions about the pitch, which appeared very patchy. While the field had been given the all clear by the assessors it certainly had an impact on passing quality. Hopefully a solution is found before next week’s Unite Round. It was a tight tussle in the first half with neither side really dominating. Sydney super sub Caley Tallon-Henniker proved the key to breaking the deadlock slotting a brilliant ball into the top corner in the 86th minute. It is the reigning champions first win of the season.

The Sky Blues were still without star signing Kyah Simon who revealed she is rehabbing from a calf injury. Simon said she hoped to be back on the pitch by the end of the

City 2 def Central Coast 2

Lourdes Bosch is shaping up to be one of the most dangerous players in the league and is one of the main reasons Melbourne City remain undefeated this season. It was hard to find a passage of play Bosch wasn’t involved in. The game got off to a cracking start with both sides on the scoreboard by the fifth minute. Bosch broke the deadlock off a free kick in the 33rd minute. Central Coast staged a comeback in the second half. Isabel Gomez, just a day after being named in the extended Matildas squad, levelled the scores in the 76th minute.

Canberra United 0 defeated by Adelaide United 2

Full of confidence after their first win of the season Adelaide United put two early goals on Canberra to go into the half time break 2-0. Canberra, who went into the game undefeated, struggled with their defence last season and it seems to be an issue that could raise its head again this year if coach Antoni Jagernic doesn’t find a solution.

Originally published as The Tackle: Taylor Otto thriving decade on from ACL removal